Rev. John Elford, UUMC's senior pastor, preaches at our traditional worship service in the Sanctuary on "Luminescent Flavor" (Matthew 5:13-20).     

Rev. Ginny Hathaway preaches at our contemporary worship service, "The Well," in Harris Chapel on "Who Do We Think We Are?" (Luke 10: 25-37).


Campus Ministry invites you to a free dinner at 7 pm in the Fourth Floor Loft and informal worship in the Harris Chapel at 7:45 pm. For more information about Campus Ministry, please contact Rev. Bill Frisbie at [email protected] or visit the group's Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CampusMinistryUUMC.

Youth Spring Break Mystery Trip Deadline
Sunday is the last day to register for the upcoming Spring Break Mystery Trip for UUMC Youth on Mar. 7-11. Youth who are interested in the Summer Mission Trip to Houston should RSVP by Mar. 9 with $150. Scholarships for both trips are available. Please contact Mary Ann Barclay, our youth director, at [email protected] to let her know you'll be participating.

Praxis



University UMC's Social Justice & Mission Ministries 
Praxis is our online venue for news and conversations of social justice and mission at University UMC and the surrounding Austin community. Please contact Mary Ann Barclay, our Justice Associate, at [email protected] with mission or social justice updates, opportunities, pictures or event notices. Click here now to visit and bookmark Praxis as you learn more about:
  
News + Events
University UMC is a creative community of faith that shares God's message of love and freedom in a variety of ways, from our work in social justice to the soaring pieces of music we offer in worship. This week, we begin a series of outdoor monthly events -- called "Sanctuary on the Sidewalk" -- that offer experiential ways for people outside of UUMC's walls to engage the themes and traditions of the church. On Valentine's Day, we'll have a "Shout Out Some Love" opportunity at Guadalupe & 24th Street for passers-by to pick up a megaphone and send messages of encouragement out on The Drag. It's an idea inspired by Improv Everywhere and the Guggenheim Museum's "Say Something Nice" project -- click here to watch a video for an idea of what this concept is all about. On Ash Wednesday, Mar. 5, Pastor John will be at the corner to mark with ashes the foreheads of those who want to take part in the tradition -- an occasion that calls us to take a clear-eyed view of our mortality and awaken to God's presence in our brokenness. On Maundy Thursday, April 17, we'll offer street-corner foot washings as a way to express our radical call of service to others. If you'd like to be a part of this project and see where this experiment might lead, contact Pastor John at [email protected].

University UMC invites you to join us in the Harris Chapel for "A Service of Love + Recommitment" as we offer the Austin community an opportunity to have their primary relationships blessed. This service is for all couples -- LGBTQ and straight -- as a way to celebrate God's gift of love regardless of whether those bonds are recognized by the church or state. University UMC honors, celebrates and includes all couples in this service as we continue our work toward social justice. For more information, contact Rev. Susan Sprague at [email protected].

"When Words Alone Cannot Express, Bring Music!" Concert & Evening Worship
Sun. Feb. 23 at 7 pm, Sanctuary
Please bring a friend and come to UUMC as our choir combines with the choir from St. John's UMC to offer "When Words Alone Cannot Express, Bring Music!" -- a service of worship featuring the music of Holst and Schubert's Mass in G. This worship service will have more than 90 singers, soloists from both congregations and a full orchestra. Make plans to come.

University UMC welcomes the Jones Family Singers to our worship service as we experience God's presence through the rich exuberance of Gospel music. To listen to a sample of the Jones Family Singers, who have appeared on Black Entertainment Television (BET) and venues including the House of Blue, click here.

Join us as we welcome a speaker from Texas Impact who will lead us in a project in the field of criminal justice. We'll have lunch immediately after church in the Youth Room and then learn about and help with a project on convict leasing in Texas. Contact Mary Ann Barclay, our youth director, at [email protected] with any questions.

Registration Now Open for Marcus Borg Weekend at UUMC | April 4-6
University United Methodist Church invites you to register online now for a weekend of teaching and conversation with Dr. Marcus Borg, one of the most widely known and influential voices in progressive Christianity. The weekend event -- "What Does It Mean To Be Christian Today?" -- includes a Friday lecture on "Reclaiming Christian Language" at 7 pm, and two Saturday lectures on "Finding the Sacred Today: Open Hearts, Thin Places" and "Radical Discipleship in an Unjust World" at 9:30 am and 1:30 pm. Borg will preach at UUMC's Sanctuary worship service at 11 am on Sun. April 6. Registration for the Friday and Saturday events is $40. Student registration is $20. There will be question-and-answer sessions and book signing opportunities during the weekend. A major figure in scholarship related to the Historical Jesus, Borg is the author of 20 books and serves as Canon Theologian at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland, Ore. Described by The New York Times as "a leading figure in his generation of Jesus scholars," Borg has appeared on NBC's "Today Show" and "Dateline," PBS's "NewsHour," ABC's "Evening News" and "Primetime," NPR's "Fresh Air" with Terry Gross, and several National Geographic programs. A Fellow of the Jesus Seminar, he has been national chair of the Historical Jesus Section of the Society of Biblical Literature.

Flowers Needed  
Members are welcome to place flowers in the Sanctuary for our Sunday services. Arrangements cost $75. UUMC volunteers later use the flowers to make and deliver arrangements for seniors on their birthdays as well as homebound and hospitalized parishioners. We have many Sundays open in 2014. Please email the Church Office at [email protected] or call 512-478-9387 to reserve your preferred date.